The Knowledge and Competence of Dental Practitioners Towards Light Curing Units in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

the objective of the study is to assess the level of light-curing unit (LCU) knowledge and clinical practice held by dental professionals working in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia.

the study used a cross-sectional design with an online questionnaire distributed among dental practitioners in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia (n=379). The questionnaire included knowledge of LCUs and material science, clinical practice related to LCUs, maintenance of LCUs, and the level of satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-squared test were used for statistical analysis.

Low level of knowledge was reported among participants with significant associations among different specialties, education level, and years of experience (p<0.05). Most participants reported acceptable clinical practice but below-standard maintenance and control of LCUs.

Knowledge of LCUs was generally insufficient, with higher levels observed among specialists and those with advanced qualifications. However, the findings may be influenced by the sample's limited geographic diversity and predominance of less experienced general practitioners.

Within the limitations of the study, dental practitioners in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia demonstrated inadequate knowledge and improper maintenance of LCUs despite their acceptable clinical practice of LCUs. This could impact the longevity of the delivered restorations.